Raised blood pressure (Indicator 11)
Updated
The indicator describes the following: Percentage of persons aged 18+ years with raised blood pressure.
This indicator is part of Target (6): A 25 per cent relative reduction in the prevalence of raised blood pressure or contain the prevalence of raised blood pressure, according to national circumstances.
To find out the percentage with raised blood pressure, blood pressure measurements among the general population must be taken. This is done in the Health surveys in Tromsø and Nord-Trøndelag. The threshold for raised blood pressure is set at systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 Hg.
Results
The proportion of the population with raised blood pressure decreased within all age groups from the mid-1980s until 2019. This is shown by blood pressure measurements taken from the population of Tromsø and Nord Trøndelag.
Among 40-79 year olds in Nord Trøndelag, the percentage with raised blood pressure has fallen from 61 per cent to 30 per cent of men and from 54 per cent to 25 per cent of women from 1984/86 to 2017/19.
Among 40-79 year olds in Tromsø, the percentage with diabetes has fallen from 42 per cent to 32 per cent of men and from 33 per cent to 25 per cent of women from 2007/08 to 2015/16.
Figure 1: Proportion of men with raised blood pressure in Nord Trøndelag, as a percentage. Raised blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 Hg. Individuals who take blood pressure medication and whose blood pressure is under this threshold will not be counted here as having raised blood pressure. Source: Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT).
Table to Figure 1
|
|
1984–86 |
1995–97 |
2006–08 |
2017-19 |
|
Ages 20–29 |
31 |
28 |
12 |
6 |
|
Ages 30–39 |
35 |
28 |
16 |
9 |
|
Ages 40–49 |
48 |
39 |
23 |
19 |
|
Ages 50–59 |
61 |
55 |
36 |
29 |
|
Ages 60–69 |
71 |
67 |
47 |
39 |
|
Ages 70–79 |
79 |
73 |
52 |
47 |
|
80+ years |
77 |
74 |
50 |
46 |
Figure 2: Proportion of women with raised blood pressure in Nord Trøndelag, as a percentage. Raised blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 Hg. Individuals who take blood pressure medication and whose blood pressure is under this threshold will not be counted here as having raised blood pressure. Source: Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT).
Table to Figure 2
|
|
1984–86 |
1995–97 |
2006–08 |
2017-19 |
|
Ages 20–29 |
8 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
|
Ages 30–39 |
15 |
9 |
5 |
3 |
|
Ages 40–49 |
31 |
24 |
11 |
10 |
|
Ages 50–59 |
54 |
46 |
26 |
20 |
|
Ages 60–69 |
75 |
66 |
42 |
35 |
|
Ages 70–79 |
85 |
80 |
52 |
49 |
|
80+ years |
84 |
83 |
60 |
53 |
Figure 3: Proportion of men with raised blood pressure, as a percentage. Raised blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 Hg. Individuals who take blood pressure medication and whose blood pressure is under this threshold will not be counted here as having raised blood pressure. Source: Tromsø Study.
Table to Figure 3
|
|
2007–08 |
2015–16 |
|
Ages 30–39 |
17 |
|
|
Ages 40–49 |
26 |
20 |
|
Ages 50–59 |
39 |
31 |
|
Ages 60–69 |
56 |
40 |
|
Ages 70–79 |
63 |
51 |
|
Ages >=80 |
72 |
56 |
Figure 4: Proportion of women with raised blood pressure in Tromsø, as a percentage. Raised blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 Hg. Individuals who take blood pressure medications and whose blood pressure is under this threshold will not be counted here as having raised blood pressure. Source: Tromsø Study.
Table to Figure 4
|
|
2007–08 |
2015–16 |
|
Ages 30–39 |
6 |
|
|
Ages 40–49 |
12 |
9 |
|
Ages 50–59 |
28 |
18 |
|
Ages 60–69 |
53 |
35 |
|
Ages 70–79 |
71 |
57 |
|
Ages >=80 |
78 |
71 |
Data sources
The data sources for this indicator are the Tromsø Study and HUNT.
A description and definitions follow below.
Data source: The Tromsø Study
Description
The Tromsø Study started in 1974 and consists of repeated health checks on Tromsø municipality’s population. The last two studies are particularly relevant to the period WHO would like Member States to report on: 2010-2025. Tromsø 6 (2007-2008) included almost 13 000 adults between the ages of 30 and 87 and had an attendance rate of 63 per cent. Tromsø 7 (2015-2016) included more than 21 000 adults aged 40 and older, and had an attendance rate of 65 per cent.
Effect measure
- Proportion of individuals with raised blood pressure in 10-year age groups of men and of women, as a percentage.
This data are shown in the figures and tables.
- Total proportion of men and women within the 40-79 age group who have raised blood pressure, as a percentage, age-standardised.
The data are age-standardised. This means that the figures are weighted such that the age composition in the Tromsø Study is the same as the age composition in the Norwegian population as of 01.01.2008. These figures are provided in the text under the heading “Results”.
Raised blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 Hg.
Interpretation and sources of error
The higher age groups contain many individuals who use antihypertensive drugs. This is one of the contributing factors to lowering blood pressure levels among the population.
The indicator describes the proportion living with raised blood pressure. Individuals who take blood pressure medications and whose systolic blood pressure is below 140 mm Hg and whose diastolic blood pressure is below under 90 mm Hg will not be counted here as having raised blood pressure.
To make observations about the proportion of the population with raised blood pressure, irrespective of antihypertensive treatment, we can look at the proportion of individuals with raised blood pressure in the youngest age groups, in which few individuals use antihypertensive drugs.
The proportion of individuals attending health checks has gradually declined over time. The figures and tables we present do not include any assessment of the implications of changes in the attendance rate.
Data source: Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT)
Description
The Health Survey in Nord Trøndelag (HUNT) began with HUNT1 in 1984-86 and consists of repeated health checks performed on the population of Nord Trøndelag county. The last two studies are particularly relevant to the period WHO would like Member States to report on: 2010-2025. HUNT2 (1995-97) covered over 65 000 individuals aged 20 and older and had an attendance rate of 70 per cent. HUNT3 (2006-08) covered over 51 000 individuals aged 20 and older and had an attendance rate of 54 per cent. HUNT4 is being conducted between 2017 and 2019 and will provide new data.
Effect measure
- Proportion of individuals with raised blood pressure in 10-year age groups of men and of women, as a percentage.
This data are shown in the figures and tables.
- Total proportion of men and women within the 40-79 age group who have raised blood pressure, as a percentage, age-standardised.
The data are age-standardised. This means that the figures are weighted such that the age composition in the Tromsø Study is the same as the age composition in the Norwegian population as of 01.01.2008. These figures are provided in the text under the heading “Results”.
Raised blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 Hg.
Interpretation and sources of error
The higher age groups contain many individuals who use antihypertensive drugs. This is one of the contributing factors to lowering blood pressure levels among the population. Individuals who take blood pressure medication and whose systolic blood pressure is below 140 mm Hg and whose diastolic blood pressure is below under 90 mm Hg will not be counted here as having raised blood pressure.
To make observations about the proportion of the population that has raised blood pressure, irrespective of antihypertensive treatment, we can look at the proportion of individuals with raised blood pressure in the youngest age groups, in which very few individuals use antihypertensive drugs.
The proportion of individuals attending health checks has gradually declined over time. The figures and tables we present do not include any assessment of the implications of changes in the attendance rate.
Global indicator definition
WHO’s definition of the indicator
Indicator 11. Age-standardised prevalence of raised blood pressure among persons aged 18+ years.
National adaptation
The national data shown are divided into gender and 10-year age groups. Age-standardised data are shown for the 40-79 age group.